Grand Lenormand

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Grand Jeu De Mlle Lenormand also known as the Astro Mythological by Mlle Lenormand) 54 cards with instruction booklet. Published by Grimaud. Card size: 127 x 90mm
Each of the traditional playing cards are represented as hearts, clubs, diamonds and spades which offer elements, numerology and other symbolism. Two extra cards are included as significator for a male or female querent. The 52 cards are 4 decks of diamonds, clubs, hearts and spades. The 52 cards are divided into 5 areas: 
The Conquest of the Golden Fleece; The Trojan War; Hermetics/Alchemy; the Unexplained; and the Zodiac. 
The cards are further divided:
The Top has 3 areas -
Left - a playing card image. Central - a constellation. Right - a letter and underneath some have Kabbalistic gematria. 
Middle - a pen and ink image, renaissance and mediaeval in design. 
Bottom - 3 areas of smaller images:
Left, Central - botanical images with sometimes several different flowers. Right - another image.


There is a traditional method to read the cards, to shuffle, cut and draw. Five cards are laid face down. Five main questions are business, oppression, marriage and relationships, the unexpected and the sequence of time. However, the cards lend themselves to intuitive readings which are deep, meaningful and aware.
Lenormand cards traditionally have 36 cards in the deck so this is a rare and very special deck. Lenormand usually suggests no reversals. The cards are read in relation to each other. 

The deck was first published in Paris in 1845, two years after the death of Marie Anne Adelaide Lenormand, a famous French fortune teller of the Court of Napoleon. She stated that a gypsy gave her the knowledge of cartomancy. Most Grand Lenormand decks are from the 1890 design. Grimaud is a village in the Cote d'Azure region of France. The Gulf of St Tropez was once called the Gulf of Grimaud from the Grimaud family who have historical links to the area where there is an 11th century castle. Grimaud is one of the oldest card publishers. Their factory was founded in 1845 in Paris by Baptiste-Paul Grimaud, later bought up by Ducale. 

An angel gifted me with this outstanding deck, which I am savouring until I have completed more research on the Greek myths and the constellations.  It is the most valuable deck in my collection and one I am proud to own and will treasure. 

Reviewer: Wendy Stokes www.wendystokes.co.uk